It was a hot July for soul-jazz
flutist Kim Scott, who rocketed like fireworks to the top of the Billboard
chart with her first No. 1 single, which has inserted the emerging artist into
the GRAMMY conversation. Scott’s solo on “Emerge” made
the first-round ballot for Best Improvised Jazz Solo while the album on which
the track appears, “Free to Be,” is garnering consideration in the Best
Contemporary Instrumental Album category.
Scott wrote “Emerge” with keyboardist Jonathan Fritzen, a
hitmaker who is featured delivering his own shimmering solo. However, it is the
flautist’s fanciful flourishes that are meriting consideration from the voting
members of The Recording Academy for the 62nd GRAMMY Awards that take place on
January 26, 2020.
After setting the stage to perfection with a Billboard
chart-topping single that also went No. 1 on the Groove Jazz Music chart,
Innervision Records dropped “Free to Be,” Scott’s fourth album, in mid-July.
She had a hand in writing five of the album’s nine songs, which offer an
alluring blend of instrumental pop appeal, jazz spontaneity and funky R&B
grooves. Scott’s classically trained flute melodies share the spotlight
equitably on a few numbers with prominent guest soloists Fritzen, saxophonist
Jazmin Ghent and Pieces of A Dream keyboardist James Lloyd. Guitarist Eric Essix,
drummer/percussionist James “PJ” Spraggins and bassist Sean Michael Ray anchor
the rhythm section with compelling textures and vibrant harmonies crafted by
keyboardist/programmer/producer Kelvin Wooten, keyboardists West Byrd and Jaden
Scott, alto saxophonist Cameron Ross and instrument programmer Dimitri Turner.
The disc’s second single, the bumping “Take It To The Rink,” is presently
skating laps around playlists after earning Most Added honors in its debut week
at radio.
In addition to her recording career, Scott hosts the
nationally syndicated “Block Party Radio Show,” which added to its growing list
of stations with the recent pickup on Alabama Public Radio, an NPR affiliate.
The artist infuses her energy and enthusiasm into the weekly broadcast
featuring the latest contemporary jazz,
urban and Latin jazz releases.
The Birmingham, Alabama-based Scott debuted in 2011 with
“Crossing Over.” Her records have consistently produced Billboard Top 20
singles. On the concert stage, she’s performed at clubs and marquee festivals,
including Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival and Seabreeze Jazz Festival. Scott
is also a member of the all-female supergroup Jazz in Pink with whom she has
played shows across the US.
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